First Holy Communion preparation is one of the most important journeys for a Catholic, and it is the parents’ responsibility (and privilege!) to raise their children in the faith. Whether your child attends Catholic school or your parish’s Faith Formation program, you, as the parent, must guide your child towards Christ by leading by example and discussing the Faith with him or her.
First Communion preparation has two parts:
- leading your child towards Christ by setting an example of how to have a relationship with Him, and helping your child cultivate that loving relationship
- teaching your child the basics of our Catholic Faith
Today, I will share some practical tips and resources for First Holy Communion Preparation. It is great for Catholics to have a firm foundation of knowledge of the Faith that they can build upon throughout their lives. To accompany these tips, I have also developed easy lesson plans for teaching the faith with the New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism.
What is Holy Communion?
The Holy Eucharist was instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. The Last Supper occurred on Holy (Maundy) Thursday – the night before he was crucified and died on the cross.
From Mark 14:22-24:
“While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.’”
Holy Communion (or Holy Eucharist) is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Every Mass is a continuation of the sacrifice that Jesus made when He gave His body for us on the cross on Good Friday.
Jesus Christ comes to us in the form of bread and wine every time we receive Holy Communion.
What do you have to do before First Communion?
The two sacraments that must be received before receiving First Holy Communion are Baptism and Reconciliation.
Baptism cleanses us of original sin. We only receive the sacrament of Baptism once.
The sacrament of reconciliation can (and must!) be received throughout our lives. This ensures that our soul is as pure as possible when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
How do I prepare my child for First Holy Communion?
First Holy Communion Preparation at Home
First Holy Communion preparation begins in the home. A family should:
- Pray together daily
- Attend Mass together on Sundays
- Live the faith daily
Model Reverence for the Eucharist
The best thing that parents can do to prepare their children to receive First Holy Communion is to model reverence for Our Lord Jesus Christ – especially when we are in His presence in Mass or Adoration!
Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, and we should remind our children of this often.
As parents, we must model reverence when in the presence of the tabernacle or Sacred Host by genuflecting (and even veiling for women – if you feel called to!). Genuflecting and veiling shows humility and respect towards Jesus.
You must also always model reverence in how you receive Holy Communion. To do this, be sure to be fully present when assisting at the Mass.
Pray during the Consecration with utmost love and devotion. When the priest elevated the Host, be sure to pray the words of St. Thomas: “My Lord, and my God!”
During the elevation of the Precious Blood, be sure to pray: “Dear Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
Teach your children to also pray these prayers.
After receiving Holy Communion, pray with sincere thanksgiving to God for sending us His Son to us in Holy Communion.
Make sure to always fast for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion.
Always receive Communion in a state of grace. This is possible by frequently receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.
In addition, help the child practice how to receive Communion reverently at home before they receive their First Holy Communion.
First Communion Catechism Lessons
As a homeschooling parent and religious educator, The New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism is an easy, traditional, and enjoyable primary resource to use for First Communion catechism lessons and preparation.
When do you start catechism class?
Children can (and should!) begin preparing to receive their First Holy Communion from birth in the home. The parents are the primary educators of their children’s faith.
Traditionally, formal instruction or lessons begin in first grade. The instruction continues into second grade. Most children receive First Holy Communion in 2nd grade around the age of 7 or 8.
How many years of catechism for First Communion?
As stated above, 2 years of instruction is expected for receiving Holy Communion.
However, you truly can start instruction at younger ages.
Remember that learning the faith should happen over a child’s lifetime! You are laying a strong foundation to get your child started. Take your time and focus on quality over quantity.
First Holy Communion Lesson Plans for the New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism
The New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism is simple enough for preschoolers to understand. It also includes engaging pictures for little Catholics to enjoy. You can use the following plans from starting at ages 3 or 4.
At these ages, you can read the catechism to your child. You can also start quizzing them on the end of lesson questions. Also, children at this age are like sponges and have fantastic memories. You can absolutely start teaching them to memorize the catechism questions!
The beauty of this lesson plan is that you can choose your pace. You can also use the plan year after year until your child receives First Holy Communion.
As the child learns to read and becomes more independent, they can read the lessons on their own and at their own pace.
They can also write down the answers to the questions when they are comfortable writing. Then, you can go over the answers together.
If you would like more formal and detailed instructions on implementing and using the New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism, then read on! I have created a simple lesson plan for you to use with your child.
First Holy Communion Preparation Lessons PDF
The First Holy Communion Preparation Lessons PDF will walk you through exactly how to use the New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism to prepare your child to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion.
The lesson plans will allow you to:
- Teach your child the faith with a simple method and structure.
- Choose the prayers that you wish for your child to learn. A checklist of suggested prayers is included.
- Go through the entire St. Joseph’s Catechism at your own pace.
- Go over the end of lesson questions with your child. An answer key is included.
- Help you lay a solid foundation for your child by helping him or her memorize and learn all of the catechism questions included in the New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism.
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